Sleeps With Monsters: Karen Healey Answers Seven Questions

KH: I come from a multi-cultural nation. I got the “ticking boxes” suggestion for my portrayal of a multi-cultural Christchurch, but that setting was actually less diverse than the one in which I attended university in Christchurch. It was less realistic than the reality, but it looked weird to those who were maybe sub-consciously expecting what we’re taught is normal in the media; ie, a lot of white people. As for Australia—Melbourne is the second most ethnically-diverse city in the world. Many, many races are represented in Melbourne, and certainly this will only be more diverse a hundred years on. So, if many cultures are present, why shouldn’t they be represented in my work?